Toilet bowl swab



TOILET BOWL SWAB Filed July 7, 1952 Fig.

Fig. 2

Carl V. Hardin INVENTOR.

United States Patent 2,719,999 TOILET BOWL SWAB Carl V. Hardin,Greenfield, Ind. Application July 7, 1952, Serial No. 297,520 1 Claim.(Cl. -210) The present invention relates to a hand implement which isexpressly designed for use by one in vigorously brushing, scrubbing andthus effectively cleansing the interior surfaces of a toilet bowl andthe object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical andeconomical construction which will fulfill, generally speaking, therequirements of manufacturers engaged in this line of endeavor andpersons called upon to handle the often undesirable chore of maintaininga toilet bowl at the height of cleanliness.

Short-handled brushes, mops and scrubbing utensils are of course, invogue and there are many of such constructions in use. Hence, reasonablyreliable and satisfactory results are had. It is to be realized,however, that it is quite difficult to keep the mop or brush head in asanitary state despite the frequent flushings to which it may besubjected once the surfaces of the bowl are brought to requisitecleanliness. There has therefore long existed a need for an implement inwhich the head is of unique shape and configuration and is non-porousand fairly rigid and yet slightly resilient to provide limited yieldablecharacteristics, but to still present firm surfaces which areeffectively conformable to the porcelain surfaces with which they coactand to in this manner do a worthwhile and complete cleaning job, onewhich results in complete removal of excreta deposits and incrustations,film, rust and other extraneous matter. To this end it is an object toprovide, therefore, a block-like head or swab of desired rigidity andto, in addition, contour the shape of the head to permit itscomplemental surfaces to do what is necessary to be done in probing andotherwise manipulating the head for satisfactory accomplishments.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention, the head whichis attached to one end of a short Wooden or equivalent handle, is ofelongate form and is gradually tapered from the heel toward the toe endand is also narrowed in width, that is, from a bottom or top planinterpretation. The longitudinal edges are of curvate form and the topand bottom surfaces are respectively concave and convex, all of thesesurfaces giving the desired contour to the over-all head susceptible ofenabling the user to do the often undesirable job in a highly desirablemanner.

Other objects, features, and advantages will become more readilyapparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet ofillustrative drawings.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein like numerals are employedto designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is what may be called a top plan view of a toilet bowlcleansing swab constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a side or edge elevation of the same.

The handle which may be of wood is some ten inches more or less inlength and is generally cylindrical and is denoted by the numeral 4. Itis provided at one end with a screw-eye 6 which may be employed as ahang-up element. The opposite end of the handle is formed into a shankwhich is reduced as at 8 and is embedded centrally and thus secured inone end of the swabbing head 10. The head 10 is, of course, theimportant feature here, and instead of using a sponge, a yarn orequivalent cloth mop, or a brush with nylon or equivalent bristles, asolid rubber block-like body is utilized. This is of elongate form andis relatively small and generally will be some six or eight inches inlength. The expression block is used to imply that it may beinterpretated as an elongate block of rubber in its broadest sense. Morespecifically, however, the block is molded, trimmed or otherwise formedso that the transverse surface at the heel end 12 is substantially flatas at 14. Toward the opposite end the block is gradually narrowed inwidth to define what may be called the toe 16 and this is also blunt andstraight across as at 18 and is substantially fiat as is betterevidenced in Figure 2. Not only is the free or toe end graduallynarrowed but it is also decreased in thickness, mm a side elevationalpoint of view, :as shown best in Figure 2. This may be said to be ataper. Thus, the toe is gradually narrowed and tapered. This permits itto be rammed and jammed into the goose-neck portion of the bowl forvirtually scrubbing out any accumulations of this often and otherwisesecluded area. The longitudinal sides are curved in lengthwisedirections as at 20-20. The top, the surface seen in Figure 1, isslightly concave and therefore suitably dished as at 22. The opposite orbottom side is mildly convex as result of a long curve as at 24. By thuscoordinating and contouring these complemental surfaces and employingnon-porous substantially solid but slightly resilient block of rubber, atruly effective swabbing head is had. The swab is sanitary and will lastindefinitely, will not soak up water, will not scratch the surface, doesnot soften or become ineffective as a cleaning agent.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrangement of details comingwithin the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actualpractice, if desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 1s:

A swabbing implement through the medium of which the interior surfacesof a porcelain or similar toilet bowl may be vigorously brushed,scrubbed and efii'ectually cleansed comprising a linearly straight rigidhandle provided at one end with an axially disposed head in the form ofa solid block of firm but yieldingly resilient nonporous rubber, saidblock being of elongated generally ovate configuration in plan andrelatively thick and thus stout and substantially rectangular incross-section from end to end, uninterruptedly smooth and convex on itsbottom side, uninterruptedly smooth and generally concave on the topside, having outwardly curved convex length- Wise edges and thusproviding a firm heel at the handleequipped end and a toe at the otherend, said toe being truncated, flat and therefore blunt at its teminalend, narrower than said heel, of a cross-sectional thickness less thanthat of the body portion of the block and being thus resilientlyflexible and consequently highly adaptable to serve its intendeddiversified purposes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.30,291 Merrill Feb. 28, 1899 D. 30,404 Booker Mar. 28, 1899 265,319Howell Oct. 3, 1882 1,002,468 Strangman Sept. 5, 1911 1,401,457Beuckmann Dec. 27, 1921 1,586,337 Stockwell May 25, 1926 1,927,350Schopp Sept. 19, 193.3 2,065,886 Clift Dec. 29, 1936 2,280,225 FinelyApr. 21, 1942 2,591,301 Schacht Apr. 1, 1952

